Orthopedic pillow having oblong central aperture

Abstract

An improved orthopedic head pillow enables a user to maintain correct spinal alignment while sleeping in a variety of positions. The pillow has a stuffed resilient body formed from cloth cover having a generally rectangular central aperture. For one embodiment, pillow dimensions are about 48 cm by 76 cm, with a 10 cm by 15 cm central aperture that is aligned so that its longitudinal axis is aligned with the pillow's lateral axis of symmetry. For back sleepers, the back of the head is cushioned by the edges of the aperture yet positioned at mattress level. Side sleepers can use either side portion of the pillow to the side of the aperture, with the head being centered on the side portion and the face facing either the aperture or the edge of the pillow. Stomach sleepers can place the side of the face on a downward slope adjacent the aperture.

1 . An improved orthopedic head pillow enables a user to maintain correct spinal alignment while sleeping in a variety of positions, said orthopedic head pillow comprising:
 a cloth cover including identical top and bottom panels, each of which has a generally rectangular perimetric outer edge and a central aperture having an oblong perimetric inner edge, said central aperture aligned so that its longitudinal axis is aligned with its associated panel's lateral axis of symmetry, a generally rectangular outer perimetric cloth band which bridges a gap between said top and bottom panels, said outer perimetric band having a pair of major parallel edges, each of which is sewn to a perimetric outer edge of one of said panels, and a pair of minor parallel end edges which are sewn together, and an inner perimetric cloth band which also bridges a gap between said top and bottom panels, said inner perimetric band having a pair of major parallel edges, each of which is sewn to a perimetric inner edge of one of said panels, and a pair of minor parallel end edges which are sewn together, thereby providing an internal cavity for said cover; and   filling material used to stuff said internal cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 1 , wherein each of said top and bottom panels has exterior dimensions of about 48 cm by 76 cm and a generally rectangular central aperture having dimensions of about 10 cm by 15 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 1 , wherein said filling material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, down and feathers. 
     
     
         4 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 1 , wherein said filling material is fiber made from polyester resin. 
     
     
         5 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the oblong aperture of each of said top and bottom panels is generally rectangular, with filleted corners. 
     
     
         6 . The improved orthopedic pillow of  claim 1 , which further comprises a length of beaded seam binding, which is sewn into each seam which joins the outer edge of each cloth panel to a major edge of said outer perimetric cloth band. 
     
     
         7 . The improved orthopedic pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the oblong aperture of each of said top and bottom panels is capsule shaped in that it is generally a rectangle with opposed minor sides replaced by semicircles in a concave relationship. 
     
     
         8 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 7 , wherein each of said top and bottom panels has exterior dimensions of about 48 cm by 76 cm and said central aperture has dimensions of about 10 cm by 17.75 cm. 
     
     
         9 . An improved orthopedic head pillow enables a user to maintain correct spinal alignment while sleeping in a variety of positions, said orthopedic head pillow comprising:
 a rectangular hollow body including a cloth cover and resilient filling; and   an oblong central aperture having its longitudinal axis aligned with the hollow body's lateral axis of symmetry;   wherein said oblong central aperture is spaced between about 15 cm and about 18 cm from a longitudinal edge of said hollow body.   
     
     
         10 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 9 , wherein said cloth cover comprises:
 identical top and bottom panels, each of which has a generally rectangular perimetric outer edge and a central aperture having an oblong perimetric inner edge, said central aperture aligned so that its longitudinal axis is aligned with its associated panel's lateral axis of symmetry;   a generally rectangular outer perimetric cloth band which bridges a gap between said top and bottom panels, said outer perimetric band having a pair of major parallel edges, each of which is sewn to a perimetric outer edge of one of said panels, and a pair of minor parallel end edges which are sewn together; and   an inner perimetric cloth band which also bridges a gap between said top and bottom panels, said inner perimetric band having a pair of major parallel edges, each of which is sewn to a perimetric inner edge of one of said panels, and a pair of minor parallel end edges which are sewn together, thereby providing an internal cavity for said cover.   
     
     
         11 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 10 , wherein each of said top and bottom panels has exterior dimensions of about 48 cm by 76 cm and a generally rectangular central aperture having dimensions of about 10 cm by 15 cm. 
     
     
         12 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 10 , wherein said filling material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, down and feathers. 
     
     
         13 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 10 , wherein said filling material is fiber made from polyester resin. 
     
     
         14 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the oblong aperture of each of said top and bottom panels is generally rectangular, with filleted corners. 
     
     
         15 . The improved orthopedic pillow of  claim 10 , which further comprises a length of beaded seam binding, which is sewn into each seam which joins the outer edge of each cloth panel to a major edge of said outer perimetric cloth band. 
     
     
         16 . The improved orthopedic pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the oblong aperture of each of said top and bottom panels is capsule shaped in that it is generally a rectangle with opposed minor sides replaced by semicircles in a concave relationship. 
     
     
         17 . The improved orthopedic head pillow of  claim 16 , wherein each of said top and bottom panels has exterior dimensions of about 48 cm by 76 cm and said central aperture has dimensions of about 10 cm by 17.75 cm.